10/20/2007

Louisiana voters went to the polls today to vote for Governor and other state and local offices. The media suggests Republican Bobby Jindal is the favorite but it’s unknown whether he can garner more than 50% of the vote and avoid a runoff.

Click (more) to see results, which will be updated as they come in.

Very early results (as I write this just 14 out of 3,967 precincts have reported) have Jindal-R with 61% of the gubernatorial vote. The only close race is for Lt. Governor in which Democrat Mitch Landrieu led 45%-42%-12% over Republicans Sammy Kershaw and Gary J. Beard. Republicans are competitive or leading in other state-wide races. It looks like Louisiana may be a two-party state.

I’ll update this as the returns come in and feel free to alert me in the comments as more results come in.

Update 1: With 155 precincts reporting, Jindal-R leads with 57%. Next is Walter J. Boasso-D with 17% followed by Foster Campbell-D with 13% and John Georges-N with 11%. A number of candidates round out the field.

Update 2: 375 precincts reporting and Jindal’s lead is down to 53% with Boasso (18%), Campbell (14%), and Georges (12%) trailing.

Update 3: with 632 precincts reporting, Jindal is at 52%, Boasso at 19%, Campbell at 15%, and Georges at 12%.

Update 4: Here’s a map of election results by parish. The returns page isn’t loading or loads slowly, probably as results are updated. I’ll try to update once it’s online.

Update 5: Thanks to Dusty (and to other intrepid election reporters), we were among the first to know that Bobby Jindal is the winner of the Louisiana governor’s race and won’t face a runoff. Mitch Landrieu was elected Lt. Governor, Jay Dardenne returns as Secretary of State, and the Attorney General’s race is a runoff. Final numbers will be posted in Update 6 when available.

Update 6: Final numbers reported just after Midnight with all 3967 precincts reporting. Thanks, Scott.

You’ve made it longer than anyone, Dusty, and you’re still ahead of the online newspaper sites. My guess is there isn’t anything else to report right now. Does anyone know what parishes/precincts haven’t reported yet?

Latest from WWL-TV: Election analyst Greg Rigamer projects Bobby Jindal as next governor, Mitch Landrieu as re-elected as Lieutenant Governor and Jay Dardenne as re-elected as Secretary of State.
Projections show that St. Bernard Parish President Junior Rodriguez has narrowly made it into a runoff against Craig Taffaro.

3,559 of 3,967 precincts reporting and still at 53… looks like this one’s over. Congrats to Louisianna. Come up to KY for some lessons on what to avoid with the election of a Governor who promises change. (Hint: Follow through on your promises and don’t try to out-dim the Dems.)

Jindal has held steady most of the night at 53%. That may mean he has widespread support throughout the state. The big blank (compared to other precincts) seems to be East Baton Rouge. This is dumb question but is East Baton Rouge different than Baton Rouge?

This article says Foster Campbell spent time in Bienville Parish with his uncle:

“Campbell traces his populist roots to his early years when he would go hunting with his uncle in the rural Black Lake area of Bienville Parish. Although Campbell’s parents were prosperous, he said his uncle drove a pickup truck with a cardboard window. His uncle’s hands had been blown off in a dynamite accident, but he somehow was able to steer the vehicle and fire a shotgun with the nubs of his arms. Each month the uncle waited on disability checks to buy groceries.”

Basically the people have realized the mistake they made 4 years ago…4 more years of corruption followed by the complete debacle of Katrina/Rita recovery. Jindal has promised after taking the oath of office to call a special legislative session to deal with nothing but complete ethics reform for the state…At last.

The Secretary of State’s website was hard to access most of the night but it’s Midnight CST and all but 1 of Louisiana’s precincts have reported. That sounds like the Secretary of State and the elections people throughout Louisiana did a good job.

DRJ, I can’t say I know enough about LA state politics to follow the details on the map although I’ll click it in a second just to see the pretty colors… but this is a great day for that states’ citizens I am sure. Congratulations to Mr. Jindal. Hopefully he succeeds at his job for the next several years and who knows? The ROC could use some up and comers.

This one was in the bag for Jindal from the beginning. Everyone wanted him for Governor the first time but he got nailed by a really good attack ad at the last minute. After seeing Kathleen Blanco speaking in public a few times, which somehow should never have been allowed if possible, NOLA’s voters sent Jindal to Washington by way of a sheepish apology (you want a REAL mandate? Try 80+ percent of the vote). If anyone can get things going in LA (and not just New Orleans, the rest of the state isn’t the most properous either) it would be him.

How could anyone vote for Caldwell over Alexander? Anyone who has watched the debate on the WDSU website knows that not only should caldwell not be our next AG, the man should never hold a position that relflect this state. The man couldnt even answer simple yes or no questions during the debate. He would simply reply, “huh, I dont knowwww.” The man gave the same answer for every question he was asked. there is nothing new or refreshing about buddy caldwell, and all louisianians need to realize that if we want this state better, stop supporting ignorant sounding politicians.

“The REASON Bobbi Jhindahl won as Governor of Louisiana is because our previous Governor, Mrs. Blanco, was exactly that….she was an air-head spoiled brat…no sign of intelligence.
So certain “hefties” pushed the Indian Boy into the spotlight and into our face…and everybody jumped on his bandwagon with him and his Parents, Wife, and Kids saying…”BUT, HE IS SO SMART”..!!!
So what….but look at his years of age, and look at where he is from, and look at the thugs who are going to be backing this kid up!!!!!!
a…a.hhh..eeeeeeee “can he make that cajun yell?”